Patient Education

Information we provide on www.joint-docs.com and any other source or links from our site is not intended to provide medical advice. Information on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Use of this site does not establish a doctor patient relationship. To diagnose or treat a health problem, for questions regarding a medical condition, or prior to starting any new treatment, you should consult with a qualified healthcare provider. For medical matters, please contact your doctor’s office by telephone. In emergency situations, call 911.

ANA testing can produce a “false positive.” This typically signals the presence of antinuclear antibodies in a healthy individual.

Talk to your doctor about a positive ANA and best next steps.

The immune system makes an abundance of proteins called antibodies. Antibodies are made by white blood cells (B cells). The antibodies recognize and combat infectious organisms (germs) in the body. Antibodies develop in our immune system to help the body fight infectious organisms. When an antibody recognizes the foreign proteins of an infectious organism, it recruits other proteins and cells to fight off the infection. This cascade of attack is called inflammation.

Sometimes these antibodies make a mistake, identifying normal, naturally-occurring proteins in our bodies as being “foreign” and dangerous. When these antibodies make incorrect calls, identifying a naturally-occurring protein (or self protein) as foreign, they are called autoantibodies. Autoantibodies start the cascade of inflammation, causing the body to attack itself. The antibodies that target “normal” proteins within the nucleus of a cell are called antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Most of us have autoantibodies, but typically in small amounts. The presence of large amount of autoantibodies or ANAs can indicate an autoimmune disease. ANAs could signal the body to begin attacking itself which can lead to autoimmune diseases, including lupus, scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, drug-induced lupus, and autoimmune hepatitis. A positive ANA can also be seen in juvenile arthritis.

Information

Antiphospholipid antibodies are present in 15-20 percent of all cases of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) and in one-third of new strokes occurring in people under the age of 50.

Antiphospholipid antibodies are a major cause of recurrent miscarriages and pregnancy complications when no other causes are found.

Diagnosis and treatment is very important. Once the disease is diagnosed, adequate therapy in most cases can prevent the recurrence of the symptoms.

The mainstay of treatment is the prevention of blood clots through oral anticoagulation (blood thinning) or anti-platelet drugs.

Risk factors for thrombosis must be addressed. These include diabetes; hypertension or high blood pressure; hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol; obesity; smoking; estrogen therapy for menopause or contraception; and any underlying systemic autoimmune disease.

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (commonly called antiphospholipid syndrome or APS) is an autoimmune disease present mostly in young women. Those with APS make abnormal proteins called antiphospholipid autoantibodies in the blood. This causes blood to flow improperly and can lead to dangerous clotting in arteries and veins, problems for a developing fetus and pregnancy miscarriage. People with this disorder may otherwise be healthy, or they also may suffer from an underlying disease, most frequently systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus or SLE).

APS affects women five times more commonly than men. It is typically diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 40. While up to 40 percent of patients with SLE will test positive for the anti-phospholipid autoantibodies, only half will develop thrombosis and/or experience miscarriages. Like most autoimmune disorders, APS has a genetic component, although there is not a direct transmission from parent to offspring.

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I have been a patient of this practice for 28 yrs. and I feel that I am MOST fortunate to have received the very best care and treatment available. I have not enough words to express my appreciation, fondness and respect for Dr. Joel Kremer.

Dr. Toledo goes above and beyond for her patients. She treated me like a human being and not just another patient. She actually made eye contact with me, which so many other practitioners do not. I am very impressed with Dr. Toledo-Garcia!

I think Dr. Michaels is awesome. She spent so much time with me. She is really personable and not what I expected at all. Looking forward to seeing her again. I loved her tips!

I would recommend Dr. Shapiro and his nurse practitioner without any reservation whatsoever. I am extremely lucky to have Dr. Shapiro as my rheumatologist and that he has chosen over the years to continue to accept me as a patient. He is so professional, knowledgeable, trustworthy and kind.

I would recommend Dr. Hausner to anyone. She is a wonderful doctor. She listens to me and responds to my concerns/needs. She is compassionate, caring and very good at her job.

Dr. Greenstein has been my rheumatologist for 30 years. I couldn't imagine where my disease would be today without his knowledgeable, kind intervention and treatment! He literally has given me my life back.

I have been very impressed with Dr. Faisal Chaudhary. He is very knowledgeable and willing to listen to and discuss complementary strategies as well.

I have and continue to recommend your practice to anyone looking for a rheumatologist. Dr. Cavaliere is very caring and really takes the time to listen and best of all really makes appropriate changes to help my overall pain level.

I will continue to recommend your office because of my excellent visit with Rhonda Murphy, RPA and I will continue to request her. I learned so much about my different problem areas from her. She was so informative. It really was one of the best doctor visits I've ever had.

I definitely would recommend the practice. I have been seeing Mari Kaymakcian for over 3 years now and she is very thorough and understanding of my problems.

Your new office is gorgeous, accommodating and so pleasant to visit! It makes having to go to the doctor a pleasurable experience.

Dr. Cosgrove and her team give me peace of mind dealing with our medical problems in such a calm, cheerful and highly professional manner.